Newly-paved area: ‘Rethink positioning of bins’

• AFTER years of disruptive construction surrounding Highbury and Islington Station, the newly-paved forecourt is operational. Well, almost. What has emerged is disappointingly devoid of any design awareness.

The outcome reflects a series of inexplicable hasty repairs to paving stones, amendments and piecemeal afterthoughts, including a series of desperate solutions for rubbish disposal and signage, in the absence of a coherent design that imaginatively embraces the visual potential of this large space.

There is an urgent need for senior management of this project to up their game, to think imaginatively, and to realise a bigger vision for this large, busy, pedestrian hub.

Action is needed to:

• Create a new attractive facade for the station to unify the elevation from the estate agent shop-front to the pub. This could incorporate the exquisite remnant of architectural detail from the original station, along with planting on the flat roof above the entrance and exit. Unsightly cables could be concealed and information panels rationalised.

• Rethink the design and positioning of adequate rubbish bins to prevent or minimise spillage and damage to stone paving.

• Extend this design concept to the area adjacent to Barclays Bank once the reposit­ioned road crossing is functioning. Such an approach would be compatible with the proposed redesign of Highbury Corner.

In short, a larger vision is required rather than a vastly increased budget to ensure an aesthetically pleasing and fully functioning outcome that is long overdue.

ROY PRENTICE
Highbury Crescent, N5